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Racial/Ethnic and gender gaps in the use of and adherence to evidence-based preventive therapies among elderly Medicare Part D beneficiaries after acute myocardial infarction
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Racial/Ethnic and gender gaps in the use of and adherence to evidence-based preventive therapies among elderly Medicare Part D beneficiaries after acute myocardial infarction

Julie C Lauffenburger, Jennifer G Robinson, Christine Oramasionwu and Gang Fang
Circulation (New York, N.Y.), Vol.129(7), pp.754-763
02/18/2014
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.002658
PMCID: PMC4351731
PMID: 24326988
url
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.002658View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

It is unclear whether gender and racial/ethnic gaps in the use of and patient adherence to β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and statins after acute myocardial infarction have persisted after establishment of the Medicare Part D prescription program. This retrospective cohort study used 2007 to 2009 Medicare service claims among Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years of age who were alive 30 days after an index acute myocardial infarction hospitalization in 2008. Multivariable logistic regression models examined racial/ethnic (white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and other) and gender differences in the use of these therapies in the 30 days after discharge and patient adherence at 12 months after discharge, adjusting for patient baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Of 85 017 individuals, 55%, 76%, and 61% used angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, and statins, respectively, within 30 days after discharge. No marked differences in use were found by race/ethnicity, but women were less likely to use angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and β-blockers compared with men. However, at 12 months after discharge, compared with white men, black and Hispanic women had the lowest likelihood (≈30%-36% lower; P<0.05) of being adherent, followed by white, Asian, and other women and black and Hispanic men (≈9%-27% lower; P<0.05). No significant difference was shown between Asian/other men and white men. Although minorities were initially no less likely to use the therapies after acute myocardial infarction discharge compared with white patients, black and Hispanic patients had significantly lower adherence over 12 months. Strategies to address gender and racial/ethnic gaps in the elderly are needed.
Medication Adherence - statistics & numerical data Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data United States - epidemiology Medication Adherence - ethnology Age Distribution Asian Americans - statistics & numerical data Humans European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data Male Evidence-Based Medicine African Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data Myocardial Infarction - drug therapy Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - therapeutic use Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use Aged, 80 and over Sex Distribution Female Aged Retrospective Studies Myocardial Infarction - ethnology Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - therapeutic use Medicare Part D - statistics & numerical data

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